Carolina Day Trips: Insider Guide to Visiting Charlotte, NC

Behold the Firebird. It's been called playful, monumental, joyful, uplifting and engaging. This remarkable sculpture, created in 1991 by the late French-American artist Niki de Saint Phaile, graces the opening to Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte. If you're musically inclined, plan a visit on First Fridays,when live jazz enlivens your experience.

Photo courtesy of N.C. Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development • www.visitnc.com

Carolina Day Trips:
Insider Tips for Visiting
Charlotte, NC

So many choices! This month’s Day Trippin’ is a bit different from most. The sheer size of Charlotte means visitors can have a myriad of experiences, and we’re offering you ideas to start your exploration. Instead of suggesting this bistro for lunch, or that boutique for shopping, we’re offering our best information on spectacular ways to enjoy this great city. During your visit, should you find more great destinations, let us know and we’ll add them to an ever-growing list of what to see and do in Charlotte.

Arguably considered the capital of both Carolinas, Charlotte is known as the Queen City for good reason. In terms of sheer size, she reigns supreme over the region. Many folks who work in Charlotte live in South Carolina, and others have populated bedroom communities north of this international metropolis.

For our purposes, let’s take a close look at what can be done over a long weekend or mid-week getaway.


Spending the Night With a city this large (900,000+ downtown, 2.6 million in the Charlotte area), you’ll need to carve out your preferred prowling area. There are hundreds of hotels and inns to choose from, but our sources tell us to consider these: VanLandingham Estate in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood was built in 1913 and has beautiful gardens. It’s a 15 minute walk (or three minute drive) to Central Avenue shops, galleries, restaurants and pubs; a five minute drive to the historic arts district NoDa; and a 10 minute drive to Center City. Located near uptown. Restaurants nearby include Crepe Cellar, Something Classic, Dish, Soul, Fuel Pizza and Bistro La Bon. Duke Mansion in the Dilworth/Myers Park neighborhood was formerly owned by James B. Duke and now operates as a nonprofit. It’s a five minute drive to the Dilworth/East Blvd. area and Freedom Park; a 10 minute drive to the South End neighborhood; and a 5 minute drive to Center City. Restaurants nearby include Lebowski’s, Sunset Grille, Big Daddy’s, 131 Main, Zen, and Providence Café. One Trip Advisor reviewer had this to say: Historic architecture enthusiasts who appreciate traditional décor will love the Mansion. It's like taking a step back in time with rooms of varying size and really comfortable beds. Try to stay in one of the rooms with a screen porch/balcony. Enjoy your coffee on the porch while looking at the amazing craftsmanship of the house. They just don't build homes like this anymore. The complimentary hot breakfast is delicious (try the bacon!) and the staff is very helpful and friendly. Plus, any proceeds go towards the preservation of this historic gem, so it makes you feel good about the money you spend on staying at the Duke Mansion. Located near uptown. The Dunhill Hotel is also an option if you’re looking for historic accommodations. It’s in the center of Uptown and has a long history with Charlotte. Restaurants nearby include King’s Kitchen, Vida Mexican Kitchen Y Cantina, Kalu, Aria Tuscan Grill and Amelie’s French Bakery. Settled and ready for fun: As you move around, you’ll notice a preponderance of dark red brick on the homes built in the 50s. Charlotte has its share of mansions as well, and the neighborhoods are woodsy and inviting. For now, you’ve got decisions to make. What will it be? Arts and Entertainment? Sports? Shopping? Perhaps a mélange of all three? Let us get you started. Arts and Entertainment There’s plenty of both to be found in the Queen City. The Mint Museum is fabulous, with history galore. The Mint Museum Randolph, designed by William Strickland, initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint, coining $5 million in gold from 1836 to the outbreak of the Civil War. A grassroots community effort during the Depression saved the original Federal-style building from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site. The museum formally opened to the public on October 22, 1936 as North Carolina's first art museum. The Bechtler Museum is a jewel, only the second in this country designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta. It is intimate in scale, delightfully arresting in its spaces and vistas, and simple and elegant in its materials. The collection presented includes works by the most important and influential artists of the mid 20th century including Miró, Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Hepworth, Nicholson, Warhol, Tinguely, Ernst, Le Corbusier, Chillida and many others. Only a handful of these wonderful artworks have been on public view in the United States. Until now, the collection was privately held by the Bechtler family of Switzerland. The Levine Museum of the New South is a jewel for history lovers. Here’s how they describe this fantastic depository of history. The New South means people, places and a period of time — from 1865 to today. Levine Museum of the New South is an interactive history museum that provides the nation with the most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War southern society featuring men, women and children, black and white, rich and poor, long-time residents and newcomers who have shaped the South since the Civil War. (Don’t miss the exhibit entitled From Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers.) Let Them Entertain You: Performing Arts The NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is home to 10 outstanding arts organizations including ArtsTeach, Carolina Voices, Carolinas Concert Association, Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Community School of the Arts, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Opera Carolina and The Light Factory. During the holiday season, performances of Handel’s Messiah and The Nutcracker are common. During the year, theatre-goers can enjoy the best of dance, opera and symphony, as well as top-rated touring plays from Broadway, and talented individuals and groups. Certified Kid-Friendly Fun & Learning! Especially if you have children with you, take time to visit Discovery Place. Their mission is to ignite wonder as the preeminent science education center that provides extraordinary experiences in relation to science and nature and your little ones will thrill at the fun as they learn. In the Project Build exhibit visitors unleash their inner architects to illustrate and conceptualize, creating building sketches, developing floor plans, and designing functional and useful buildings through different computer-generated programs. A state-of-the-art Microsoft surface table allows mixing and matching of art and design from different periods, demonstrating how redesign can lead to new ideas. Visitors young and old can challenge their creativity with the immensely popular Build It! blocks, as well as view impressive Build It! block models of the Eiffel Tower, Transamerica Pyramid and the Temple of Kukulcan. Local Sports & Teams Depending upon the time of year, sports fans will find games, games, games. The Charlotte Bobcats provide NBA basketball thrills, while the Charlotte Checkers provide hockey excitement. Minor league baseball offers summertime fun with the Charlotte Knights, and NASCAR races are held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the recently opened NASCAR Hall of Fame offers year-round interactive racing excitement. For those who like to play more than watch, golf is legendary in Charlotte and points north. Peruse the Carolina Golf Trail for inspiration on the links. And finally, the Carolina Panthers, although not at their best recently, provide bona fide professional football entertainment in the magnificent Bank of America Stadium. Shop Til You Drop – Best Local Areas Due to its sheer size, unless you want to devote a day to each shopping area, you’ll have to choose. Here are a few favorites from those in the know. SouthPark Area SouthPark Mall – a premier shopping destination featuring many high-end outlets. Morrison Shopping Center and Lofts – shopping options include E Martini, fine lingerie & swimwear, Winestore (a new wine store concept focused on providing an educational and fun wine buying environment), Earth Fare (a North Carolina based organic market featuring locally grown produce, artisan cheeses, fresh baked breads and more), Black & Blue, the Denim Destination and Scout & Molly’s, a women's boutique clothing store with designer clothes and handbags and beautiful, locally-made jewelry. Phillips Place – An alfresco shopping area adjacent to a movie theater. NoDa Area Yarnhouse – a knitting, crocheting and fiber arts community. The Boulevard at NoDa – a unique fashion, art, craft and gift marketplace. Green Rice Gallery – a gallery showing a range of art and showcasing the works of over 50 talented artists. Dilworth/East Blvd Area Red Sky Gallery – features original works on paper and canvas, sculpture, ceramic, glass, studio furniture, art-to-wear, jewelry and more. Sloan – a boutique specializing in women’s clothing, jewelry and shoes. Paper Skyscraper – gift shop with stationary, home goods, books, etc. Park Road Shopping Center – has a wide range of shops and food, and is a popular place for locals to shop. Food, Glorious Food – Local Dining Ask any local and you’ll get a list of must-visit restaurants and bistros. Here are just a few that hit our radar, in addition to those listed earlier that are near the various B&Bs. Baoding Currently rated #1 of 1,168 restaurants in Charlotte Cuisine: Include Chinese, Caribbean, Vegetarian, Eclectic, International Georges Brasserie Currently rated #2 on Trip Advisor Cuisine: French Dining Options: Breakfast/Brunch Amelie’s French Bakery Currently rated #3 on Trip Advisor Award winning and lots of fun. Cuisine: French Carpe Diem Their menu features long time favorites, like hazelnut crusted goat cheese salad, but has new items that will keep your palate interested. Carpe Diem Restaurant and Caterers has consistently been voted one of the top ten restaurants in Zagat’s America’s Top Restaurants since 2005. Aquavina Fabulous seafood. Consider just one menu item: Latorre's Scallops. Pan Seared Scallops Served With Coconut Rice, Butter Braised Asparagus, Sweet Plantain, Cuban Style Black Beans, and Mango Sauce – Yum! Upstream Fresh dayboat seafood and award-winning Pacific Rim cuisine. One of the best new restaurants in the U.S., says Esquire’s John Mariani, and Zagat has named it Charlotte’s most popular restaurant. Bonterra Dining and Wine Room Enjoy an elegant, casual setting, located in the heart of the historic Southend District near Uptown Charlotte. Bonterra is a unique establishment rich with ambience and flavor. Housed in a renovated 110-year-old church, Bonterra's interior manages to blend the original architectural features of its historic building tastefully with modern additions. Menu items include extraordinary cheeses, olives and charcuterie. Want ultra casual? Pick up chicken at Price’s Chicken Coop. Soak up local flavor at Lupie’s Café. Clubs and Pubs Uptown is hot and happening. The Center City is the place many young professionals go out on the town. Try these: Urban Sip, located on the 15th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, promises to change regional wine tasting with its December 29, 2010 opening of Urban Sip wine and scotch bar. Consider this: More than 90 wines and 35 single malt Scotches by the glass. Ri-Ra’s is unique in that it was built from an old Pub in Ireland and is a favorite of locals and visitors. Therapy Café is the home of the famous Martini Madness. You be the judge. Related Reading Charlotte In-Depth Profile Visit Charlotte Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority



About the Author Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.